Perfect Pulkkanen Sets Early Pace in Shanghai
Finn storms to clubhouse record to grab three-shot lead at Volvo China Open
Seoul, Korea - Tapio Pulkkanen crafted a dazzling display at the Enhance Anting Golf Club, firing his lowest round of the season—a sensational nine-under-par 62—to surge clear by three strokes after the opening day of the Volvo China Open.
The 34-year-old Finn, renowned for topping the HotelPlanner Tour Rankings back in 2017, turned on the style from the outset. A blistering front nine of four-under set the tone, but it was after the turn that Pulkkanen truly ignited his round. Birdies on the first and third holes set the stage before an electrifying chip-in eagle on the fourth catapulted him further ahead. One final flourish, a birdie on the eighth, sealed a clubhouse record and a commanding early lead.
“A great start," said a buoyant Pulkkanen afterward. "My putter was really hot—I think I missed just one putt inside 15 feet. Tee to green, it was just solid golf.”
Two weeks after clinching his maiden DP World Tour victory at the Hero Indian Open, Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra kept pace admirably, signing for a six-under-par 65, leaving him Pulkkanen’s closest challenger.
Leading local hopes, China’s Bai Zhengkai carded a solid four-under 67 to nestle within a chasing pack of five players. He shares third place alongside Australian duo Jason Scrivener and Elvis Smylie, New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori, and American Jordan Gumberg.
Play was suspended at twilight with 13 players yet to finish their rounds. Competition resumes bright and early at 07:15 on Friday, with all second-round tee times unchanged.
As Pulkkanen eyes repeating the 2019 heroics of his compatriot Mikko Korhonen, the field knows they’ll need to deliver something special to chase down the Finn flying high in Shanghai.